This 131.1-mile drive from Sylvan, MN to Minneapolis, MN takes approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes and is best suited as a single-day trip. You'll primarily travel on US 10 and I-94, with a portion on the C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway. With about 72% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly direct journey through the Midwest. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $20. This is a straightforward drive, ideal for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.6 miles from Sylvan, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
54.5 mi
1h 3m
I 94
34.1 mi
38m
C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway
25.8 mi
29m
State Highway 210
5.8 mi
7m
Highland Scenic Drive South
2 mi
3m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Broadway Street East
1.5 mi
2m
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 54.5 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sylvan, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on MN 210
5.8 mi·7 min·State Highway 210
2
Turn right onto CR 48
1.6 mi·2 min·Highland Scenic Drive South
3
Enter roundabout onto CR 48
203 ft·6 sec·Highland Scenic Drive South
4
Continue on CR 48
0.3 mi·30 sec·Highland Scenic Drive South
5
Turn right onto MN 371
26 mi·29 min·C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway
6
Merge onto US 10
28 mi·32 min·US 10
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
26 mi·30 min·US 10
8
Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
9
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
10
Continue on County Road 11
0.7 mi·57 sec·County Road 11
11
Turn right onto MN 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·State Highway 25
12
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·42 sec·Pine Street
13
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi·2 min·Broadway Street East
14
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fenning Avenue
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
16
Merge onto I 94
28 mi·31 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
6.1 mi·7 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward 4th Street NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue NorthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi·35 sec·2nd Avenue North
22
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi·1 min·North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi·31 sec·Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 39-minute duration, this drive is easily manageable in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to avoid the heaviest traffic entering Minneapolis, especially on weekdays. You'll have one designated stop along the way, but with the relatively short distance, you can be flexible with breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, with an estimated cost of $20 for the trip. A practical tip for this route: be aware of potential construction zones, particularly as you approach the Twin Cities metro area, which can impact travel times.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.6 miles from Sylvan, MN, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.6 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minneapolis, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sylvan, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sylvan, MN
This is one driving day of about 131.1 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Sylvan, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 122.4 and 130.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
122.4 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
128.6 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
129 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Street North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 4th Street North
7
130 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 2nd Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward 2nd Avenue North
6
130.4 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Turn right onto CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.51 one way
$39.02 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$21.02
$42.04
premium
$4.53
$23.39
$46.78
diesel
$5.61
$28.95
$57.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.3
0
$13.77
$6.29
Efficient EV
32.8
0
$11.47
$5.24
EV Truck/SUV
52.4
0
$18.35
$8.39
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Sylvan, MN
Morning
in Sylvan on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Morning
in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 39m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 72% of the journey utilizing major roadways like US 10 and I-94. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.5 miles on US 10, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While much of the drive is on faster roads, expect the landscape to transition as you move from more rural settings towards the urban environment of Minneapolis. The C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway adds a brief change of pace before merging onto the interstate system.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 122.4 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 131.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 122.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 129 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Minneapolis is a city of about 430,000 people (2019) and the largest city in Minnesota. Along with neighboring Saint Paul, it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolitan area in the Midwest after Chicago and Detroit.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 131.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Minneapolis, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 122.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 129 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Minneapolis, MN before heading back.
